The Chase Celebrity Special

Bradley Walsh (Host)

Born: June 04, 1960 in Watford

Best Known For: Coronation Street and Law & Order: UK

Early-life: Bradley John Walsh was born in Watford on June 4, 1960. He wanted to be a footballer and was playing for a county league team when he was offered a contract with Brentford FC. Sadly, his sporting career was brought to an abrupt end when he broke both his ankles. He then considered joining the police, but was told he was too short, so he followed his father into engineering. He eventually decided to try stand-up comedy, and made his first steps towards turning professional when he became an entertainer at a holiday camp near Morecambe.

Career: Walsh's big TV break came in 1993, when he appeared on the Royal Variety Show. It led to a stint presenting the National Lottery, and he also hosted the game shows Wheel of Fortune and Win, Lose or Draw. After fearing his brand of light entertainment was becoming dated he moved into acting, taking parts in the TV version of Lock, Stock, the soap Night and Day and movie Mike Bassett: England Manager before Coronation Street's bosses created the role of Danny Baldwin for him in 2004. He stayed in Weatherfield for two years before leaving to pursue other projects. He's since appeared in Torn, The Old Curiosity Shop, The Sarah Jane Adventures, Law and Order: UK and SunTrap. He moved back into presenting in 2009 with ITV quiz show The Chase, and is a team captain on Play to the Whistle.

Quote: 'Professionally I saw the end of light entertainment galloping towards me. Oddly enough, it's coming back now thanks to all the reality shows.'

Trivia: Walsh is a supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Melvin Odoom (Contestant)

Carl Fogarty (Contestant)

Born: July 01, 1965 in Blackburn

Best Known For: Being the most successful World Superbike racer of all time.

Early-life: Carl George Fogarty was born in Blackburn on July 1, 1965. He finished 7th in his first World Superbike Championship in 1991 and 9th overall the season after. In 1993, he rode for Ducati and finished second behind Scott Russell. A year later, he won his first title.

Career: Fogarty went on to win the World Superbike Championship a further three times in 1995, 1998 and 1999. During his career, he recorded 59 victories and 109 podium finishes. He retired in 2000 due to injuries. In 2014, he won I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

Quote: 'Motorbike racing is scary for a lot of people but for me it is easy.'

Trivia: Fogarty was awarded an MBE in the 1998 New Year's Honours List.

Louis Smith (Contestant)

Born: April 22, 1989 in Peterborough

Best Known For: Winning Olympic medals at Beijing and London, and appearing on Strictly Come Dancing.

Early-life: Louis Antoine Smith was born in Peterborough on April 22, 1989. He was offered a choral scholarship when he was seven, but decided instead to focus on gymnastics. As a junior he was a two-time European Champion on the pommel horse, and won gold on the same apparatus at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

Career: In a rare feat for a British male gymnast, Louis won a bronze medal on the pommel horse at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He went on to win a number of silver medals at European Championships, before raising his profile at the London Olympics in 2012 with a bronze medal in the men's artistic team all-round event and a silver medal in the pommel horse final. In 2012, he won the 10th series of Strictly Come Dancing with professional dancer Flavia Cacace. In August 2014, he was a judge on BBC One celebrity gymnastics contest Tumble.

Quote: 'I don't really feel like a sex symbol. I try not to get carried away. I've come from very little, so you just appreciate what you've got.'

Trivia: He was awarded an MBE in 2013.

Bonnie Langford (Contestant)

Born: July 22, 1964 in Hampton Court, Surrey

Best Known For: Her former child prodigy status and her head-banging antics on Dancing on Ice.

Early-life: Born Bonita Melody Lysette Langford on July 22, 1964, in Hampton Court, Surrey. She is the youngest of three girls. She had singing and dancing lessons from an early age. At the age of six she won TV talent show Opportunity Knocks, which enabled her to gain an Equity card and work professionally. Training at the Arts Educational and Italia Conti stage schools in London led to a successful child actor's career.

Career: Langford appeared in her first movie, Bugsy Malone, when she was 12. Other early projects include theatre productions and TV shows, including variety specials and Just William. At 17, Langford landed the role of Rumpleteaser in the original cast of Cats. Since then, she has put her singing and dancing skills to good use in Peter Pan: The Musical, The Pirates of Penzance, and TV's Saturday Starship and The Hot Shoe Show. She played Mel, an assistant to both the sixth and seventh Doctor Whos, between 1986 and 1987. She bounced back onto TV screens in 2006 when she was a contestant on Dancing on Ice. She made it through to the final and she also toured with Torvill and Dean's Dancing on Ice: The Tour in 2007. Since then, she has returned to the West End, playing Roxie Hart in long-running musical Chicago, and toured with Guys and Dolls. She has also appeared in Chicago in Canada and on Broadway. In early 2014, she participated with fellow former contestants in the final series of Dancing on Ice.

Quote: 'I'm far too normal for this industry, I think.'

Trivia: Langford is a regular on the panto circuit.

Michael Kelpie (Executive producer)

Helen Tumbridge (Executive producer)

Martin Scott (Executive producer)

09:00 am - 10:00 am, Monday, July 13 on Challenge (48)

About this Broadcast

Season 11, Episode 12

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